Friday, July 15, 2011

Brewers were on K-Rod's NO-Trade List

According to the USA Today, Pitcher Francisco Rodriguez said he wasn't surprised when he learned the Mets had traded him. He was surprised, however, when he learned he had been dealt to the Brewers.

The Brewers were on a list of 10 teams Rodriguez compiled along with then-agent Paul Kunzer when he signed with the Mets in late 2008.

"Still trying to find out what happened," Rodriguez said Thursday after he had joined the Brewers in Denver, where they're playing the Rockies. "I was told by my ex-agent about the 10-team list and Milwaukee was one of them. … I just found out my agent never sent the letter to the players association or MLB. The Mets had an opportunity to trade me to anyplace or anywhere they wanted to."

However, Rodriguez says he made out the list when he knew the Brewers had an established closer, Trevor Hoffman. Rodriguez, a closer himself who set the single-season saves record with 62 in 2008, says he's happy to be with the Brewers. He holds no grudge against the Mets, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

"That's not an issue at all," said Rodriguez, dealt Tuesday by the Mets for two players to be named. The Brewers also receive cash in the deal.

"I'm a Brewer now, and I'm just going to go out there and compete," he said. "I'm trying to enjoy every moment, every day, work double as hard as I can and help this ballclub. That's the only thing I have in my mind."